Display cabinet



Aug. 31,1926. I 1,597,743

A. F. wALz DISPLAY CABINET Filed Jan. 27, 1925 fag 1@ 0/2 a Patented Aug. 3l, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1,597,743 PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER F. WALZ, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO BUNTE BROTHERS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,`A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

DISPLAY CABINET.

Application led January 27, 1923.

M v invention relates to display cabinets and is particularly intended for displaying chocolate creams sold in bulk. It is well known by manufacturers .1nd dealers of confectioneryv thatl the surface of chocolate creams is very easily scratched or abraded, and that this detracts from their appearance and hence has a tendency to retard sales. This characteristic of chocolate creams makes it difiicult to handle them in bulk and preserve their original attractive appearance. This is especially true of chocolates of the higher grades whose casings are usually softer than those of the cheaper grades. On the other hand it is considerably cheaper to sell confectionery" in bulk, by which I mean quantities of 5 lbs. or upward, for it saves the cost of individual packages which are more or less expensive. Besides this, when the goods are sold in boxes, the quantity is fixed and it is not practicable to make small retail sales of 1/4 lbs. or less. Heretofore only the cheaper grades of chocolates have commonly been sold in bulk, and the object of my invention is to provide means by which they may be sold to the dealer in bulk and yet retain their smooth and attractiveappearance until the last of them have been sold. Another object of my invention is to provide a display cabinet so constructed that it may have the appearance of being full until practically all of the contents have been sold. Still another object is to provide means to render the device sanitary by covering the main receptacle with a cover which is partof the cabinet itself.

I obtain my objects by the structure illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the complete cabinet taken from a front corner illustrating the manner in which it displays the goods.

Figure 2 is a perspective view taken from a rear corner.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on a vertical plane running fore and aft near the center of the cabinet.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view on the line 4 4 Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view showing the manner in which the goods are packed as they leave the factory to be sentr to the dealer.

Serial No. 615,216.

Like numerals denote like parts throughout the several views.

In employing my cabinet it is the practice of the manufacturer to ship the goods in a container 1 of cardboard, strawboard or similar material. A common size of cont-ainer is one which will hold 5 lbs. of chocolate creams or like goods. This container is packed in the manner illustrated in Figure 5, in which it will be observed that there is a. layer 2 of chocolates placed upon the bottom of the container l; then a separator 3 overlying this layer; then a second layer 4 resting upon the separator 3. The number of layers will, of course, vary with the capacity of the container ,and the size of the pieces but two layers are sufficient for explaining the principle of the invention. As will be noted by reference to Figure 5, the second layer does not come flush with the top of the container, but is at a. distance below equal to or slightly more than the diameter of the larger pieces. This leaves room for a tra-y 6 which fits loosely within the container and itself contains a layer 8 of creams. This tray is usually of the same material as the container 1. It will be understood that the container 1 and tray 6 will be furnished by the manufacturer on each shipment, and will be destroyed after the goods have all been sold.

Referring now to the cabinet proper: this has a base 10 of wood or other appropriate subst-ance from which rise a front wall 12 and two side walls 13. The top 0f the cabinet is closed by a sheetv14 of glass. By preference this is inclined downward toward the front, as illustrated. In other words, t-he cabinet is taller at the back than at the front.

Fastened to the side walls parallel to the glass top 14 are guides 16. In the present case, they are shown in the form o channeled members having legs of unequal length, the upper legs 16a extending inward and forming a support for the glass, and the lower legs 16b extending inward a greater distance and forming a support for the tray 6. The width of t-he guides, especially of the lower legs, may be increased to any desired width. These lower legs or horizontal flanges are ata distance below the glass equal approximately to the height of the tray 6. The parts are so proportioned that the lower forward end of the guide 16 will be at least as high above the base 10 as the height of the container l1 so that the container maybe inserted into the cabinet from the back (which is preferably open) as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.

A cover 18 is located within the cabinet to form a closure for the container 1. This is preferably of sheet metal and hinged to the cabinet at or near the forward end thereof about on a level with the top of the container. At the rear end it has a depending flange 2O adapted to lie against the rear surface of the container. Thsi makes the closure more effective and also braces the container, for it will be understood thatsuch containers, being intended only for temporary use, are usually not particularly strong or durable. A lip 21 extends backward from the lower margin of the flange to form a convenient handle by which the cover may be raised.

` In practice, the dealer is provided with a `cabinet and when the manufacturer ships the goods they will be packed as illustrated in Figure 5 with a plurality of layers kept apart by separators 3, the upper layer being contained in tray 6 which is nested within the container. Of course the manufacturer will provide a cover of suitable form to protect the goods during shipment. lVhen the goods are received by the dealer he lifts' out the upper tray and inserts it into the guide 16 of the cabinet where it will lie in the manner illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3. In this position the goods in the tray will be adjacent to the glass, by which they will be protected against scratching or damage of any sort. It will be observed that there is a considerable space at the back of the cabinet between the top of the container 1 and the bottom of tray 6. This affords room for the salesman to insert his hand to withdraw a small quantity of the goods withoutI sliding the container outward. This is a convenience where small quantities of the goods are to be sold. If greater quantities are to be sold, it is a simple matter for the dealer to slide the container part way out at the back of theJ cabinet to afford ready access to the goods. Of course as soon as one layer of goods has been sold the separator 3 below it will be lifted out and this will expose the next layer beneath. W'hen the container 1 has been finally emptied, the goods from the tray 6 may be sold, it being a simple matter for the dealer `to slide it outward to afford access to the interior.

It will be observed that the cover 18 closes by gravity; hence it requires no particular attention on the part of the salesman. He does not have to remember to replace it every time he withdraws anything from the container. It will also be seen that the cover does not, practically speaking, restrict the opening at the back of the cabinet. Hence the salesman has just as much space available for inserting and withdrawing his hand, as if the cover were absent.

From the foregoing it will be evident that as a result of my invention, the goods are kept in the best of condition at all times even though they are kept practically in bulk and whether they are sold in small or large quantities. The goods in the tray G will never be disturbed as long" as there is a supply in the container beneath and hence there will be no possibility of accidentally scratching them or damaging them in any way. Furthermore, the cabinet will always have the appearance of being` full. which in itself isan attractive feature. The customer feels that he is always getting a supply of goods from a boi: freshly opened, and this also tends to promote sales. Another advantage is that the goods in the tray 6, which in the ordinary course of events will be the last to be delivered to customers, will in the meantime be kept in a space that is almost airtight. Hence they will neither dry out nor become sticky, as they would if they were more freely exposed to atmospheric conditions.

Another advantage of my device is that it is of very simple construction and has no moving parts. It utilizes the containers which are necessarily sent by the manufacture! and is inexpensive to make for the reason that the side and front walls are substantially plain, and no back is required.l As there is a space between the rear edge of the container 1 and the tray above it. the dealer may at all times look into the container to see whether his supply is running low.

llvhile I have described the best manner of shipping and handling the goods. it will be understood that some variations may be practiced without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, instead of employing a single tray 6, a. plurality of trays may be employed, one for each layer of the goods. Also it would be possible to omit the separators 8 between the different layers but by using a tray or separator the goods f only one layer are exposed to any rubbing action on each other when a quantity is to be removed; the result is that the goods are kept in much better condition than kif the entire space below the tray were filled without system and without separators.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A display cabinet having a compartment adapted to receive a container for merchandise` the cabinet having a fixed transparent cover at the top, means beneath the cover for removably supporting a merchandise display tray beneath and adjacent to said' cover. said compartment having an opening at the back through which a second container may be placed on the ioor of the compartment, and a second cover hinged within the compartment at the forward end thereof and above the floor thereof, whereby it may be swung down and onto .and up from the top of the second -container.

2. A display cabinet having a main compartment which is higher at the back than at the front, the top being transparent and slanting downward toward the front, means at the sides of the cabinet for removably supporting a merchandise display tray beneath and adjacent to said cover, the main compartment having space beneath the transparent cover for receiving a container arranged in horizontal position, and a cover for the second container hinged to the cabinet on the inside near the front and at a distance below the transparent cover to thereby afford space for the display tray.

3. A display cabinet having a main compartment which has a transparent cover slanting downward toward the front, means at the sides of the cabinet'for removably supporting a merchandise display tray beneath and adjacent to said cover, the main compartment having space beneath the transparent cover for receiving a container placed l horizontally, and a cover for the second container hinged to the cabinet on the inside near the front and at a distance below the transparent cover for accommodating the display tray, the main compartment being higher at the back than at the front and being open atthe back whereby the second container may be slid in from the back and the hand of the operator may be inserted down into the second container when said second cover is swung upward.

4. A display cabinet having a main compartment which is higher at the back than at the front, the top being transparent and slanted downward toward the front, guides at the sides of the cabinet running approximately parallel to the top for supporting a merchandise display tray, and a movable cover hinged to the cabinet near the front thereof within the main compartment and extending approximately to the rear end of the cabinet for covering a merchandise container placed within the cabinet below said tray.

5. A display cabinet having a main compartment which is higher at the back than at the front, the cabinet having an opening in the back for access to said main compartment, a stationary transparent top to the cabinet extending obliquely downward and forward from the rear end to the front, internal guides at the sides of the cabinet spaced below and parallel to the transparent top for'supporting a merchandising display tray beneath the transparent top of the cabinet for thus having the tray covered and for leaving a considerable portion of the main compartment free for the reception of a storage receptacle for additional merchandise, and a cover for the last-mentioned receptacle, said cover being hinged to the forward portion of the main compartment immediately below the forward end of the guides.

6. A display cabinet having a main compartment which is open at the back and is higher at the back than at the front, the top being fixed and transparent and slanting downward toward the front, guides at the sides of the cabinet running approximately parallel to the top for supporting a merchan? dise display tray, a movable cover hinged to the cabinet near the front thereof within the main compartment and extending approximately to the rear end of the cabinet for covering a merchandise container placed Within the cabinet below said tray, and a ange depending from the rear edge of the movable cover for passing over the upper rear edge of the merchandise container.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed by name.

ALEXANDER F. WALZ. 

